The preliminary plans for Hard Rock Casino Rockford have just become bigger, with the gambling operator unveiling plans for the establishment of a 250-room hotel as part of its casino resort that is set to be situated at East State Street and Interstate 90.
The initial construction phase for the venue was initially set to include the Hard Rock Casino, a Hard Rock Live venue, and a Hard Rock Cafe at the 65,000-square-foot site. At the time, it was revealed that a hotel will also become part of the project in a future phase of the construction.
Now, Geno Iafrate, the President of Hard Rock Rockford, revealed that the company would not wait any longer and would pursue a full-service hotel as a centerpiece of the aforementioned project from the very beginning. Mr. Iafrate said that the company’s management remains hopeful that the addition of a hotel in phase one of the construction would provide it with the chance to grow. He further noted that a hotel construction is not finalized as quickly as the one of a casino, so the casino may open earlier than the hotel.
As previously revealed by the gambling operator, Hard Rock is planning a groundbreaking celebration in the summer of 2022.
Hotel Construction Would Up the Ante for Hard Rock Rockford
The CEO of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, John Groh, has shared that the addition of a hotel to the first phase of the casino resort’s construction would be great.
Mr. Groh explained that the addition of a hotel combines well with the nature of the hospitality industry and would probably be a successful move for the Hard Rock property because opening a hotel along with a casino venue would place the gambling operator one step ahead of its competitors and would enhance its presence in Rockford. According to him, a 250-room hotel could serve as an additional attraction for travelers and would make the venue the largest hotel in the city. The second-biggest hotel would be the Holiday Inn, which features a total of 202 rooms.
As confirmed by Geno Iafrate, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) granted the operating license to Hard Rock’s permanent casino in January. He further noted that local residents may notice that the work at the site hosting the permanent resort has begun, as the site needs some preparation before the beginning of the actual construction works.
Although Hard Rock officials have had an overall idea for the project, they are still working on the more detailed plans of the casino and hotel resort, including the square footage of the venues, the casino floor’s precise layout, sizes and types of restaurants, the size and design of the Hard Rock Live venue. The blueprints, architectural drawings and all detailed plans for the construction are required to be approved by administrators of the state’s gambling regulatory body before the company is allowed to proceed with the construction.
